It’s quite possible that Mike Blackman is one of the most interesting men on the planet. His name is synonymous with the Integrated Systems Europe expo in Amsterdam, but many people in the AV industry around the world don’t know all the history that led Mike to where he is today. Originally born in Guyana […]

Debbie Sausville has been a staple at InfoComm International for 22 years. She’s made such an impact on the AV industry as a whole, but how often do we get a chance to know more about the woman behind the name? A graduate of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia with a double major in […]

Like so many of us, as a young girl, Gina Sansivero was a little unsure of “what she wanted to be when she grew up.” Coming from an Italian family, she knew she loved the language and she knew she enjoyed children, so she went to study at Fordham University. She started out with a […]

A zoologist, an amateur fighter and an AV systems designer all walk into an InfoComm reception… No, that’s not the beginning of a joke, and it’s not three separate people — it’s our friend and blogger Mark Coxon, all rolled into one smart, dynamic person. Mark is all over the AV industry. He’s a dedicated […]

“I’ve tried to escape the AV industry multiple times… but I just can’t,” laughed Anthony Coppedge as he talked about his life in AV. Anthony needs no introduction, but instead, deserves one. For nearly 20 years, Anthony has worked in the secular world of AV, the ministry world of church staff, and the para-church ministry […]

Penny Sitler is a staple of the AV industry… but working in AV wasn’t something she originally thought she’d do! “I really did fall into the industry,” Penny explained. “ I went to DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. My passion was for languages and business and I was a romance languages and international business major. […]

If you’re reading this, then you already know Gary Kayye. He’s the founder of rAVe [Publications]. He’s been in the AV industry for years. He’s won numerous accolades for his work and his AV prowess, if you will. But did you know that Gary is also an expert in branding and digital marketing? In fact, […]

Chuck Wilson’s story of how he got into AV is a little different than, well, a lot of people. Not many people can say that they’ve only held two jobs their entire life. Chuck, executive director of NSCA, however, can. “I started out in the AV industry in the late ‘70s,” said Chuck. “I came […]

Although she is very much what we would all consider to be a seasoned AV veteran, Marla Suttenberg of Sapphire Marketing didn’t go to school with the notion that she’d eventually end up working in the AV industry. According to her, it was a total fluke. “I went to Clark University in Worcester, which is […]

Joel Rollins has been a staple at rAVe [Publications] for years. You’ve read his columns, you’ve heard his voice on rAVe RADIO, and you’ve seen his face in our booth at InfoComm and ISE. He’s the epitome of an AV industry veteran. He embodies all that an AV veteran should be. But, do you know […]

Len Dozier, founder of Premier Mounts, is arguably one of the hardest working people in the AV industry. Starting from the ground up, getting experience any way he could, Len has made a name for himself, and his company, over the last four and a half decades. It all started in 1967. Len was born […]

If you’ve ever been to an InfoComm show, you probably know or have heard the name Betsy Jaffe. While her title says Vice President of Communications for InfoComm, Betsy really is so much more for the organization. And it’s no surprise, because Betsy has always been one to work hard and give of herself for […]

Like many people who work in AV, Bill Mullin of Starin backed his way into the industry. As a child, Bill was always interested in anything that flickered an image or made a sound. Having grown up in the 1960s as a product of the British invasion, music and the technology behind it always intrigued […]

At the age of 12, Kevin Nelson’s mom bought and brought home a brand new organ. It was making this noise in the house and Kevin wanted to know why. So he tore apart the organ, took the speakers out, and figured out what made it work. Needless to say, he was grounded for it. […]

Welcome to our 2014 rAVe Readers’ Choice Awards voting!! We received THOUSANDS of nominations for different products and companies in the AV industry, but these were the MOST nominated in their categories… so, now it’s time to determine the best of the best. Submit your votes TODAY! Voting ends May 11th at 11:59PM PST. Winners […]

Nigel Brent is arguably one of the most interesting and innovative people in the AV industry today — and he’s been in the industry for over 48 years. At the age of 78, Nigel is as sharp and driven and motivated as ever (if not more so). However, his journey to the AV industry happened […]

In the industry’s first-ever independent survey asking AV’ers which projection technology, LCD or DLP, they prefer, LCD has won in a big way. We will do this survey annually in the future, so we’ll see how it evolves over time. Have you seen our article on Sony’s new Laser Projection Technology? No? Well, you should read […]

Even though it is absolutely miserable and freezing and cold and icy here in North Carolina, I am still dreaming of the warm sun and sandy beaches of the Bahamas that my family and I experienced a few weeks ago when we went on a short vacation. My husband, daughter Lilly, and I went on […]

Nominations are OPEN for the 3rd annual rAVe Readers’ Choice Awards! What are the rAVe Readers’ Choice awards, you ask? Well, it’s where YOU, the READER, get to decide who is the BEST of the best of the best in the AV industry. From your Favorite Speaker Manufacturer to your Favorite Manufacturer Social Media Presence, […]

Forty-two-year AV industry veteran Ike Eckstein is one of those rare breeds who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, isn’t afraid to work overtime, and believes in the core value of taking care of your customers. “I never wrote a resume in my life,” said Ike as he recalled his early days in the industry. […]

I’ve mentioned before that since working in AV, I’ve had my entire world flipped upside down when it comes to “experiencing” AV in the real world. Whether it’s at a concert, in a retail location, at an airport, or somewhere else, I’m CONSTANTLY noticing the littlest things about the AV integration and setups in different […]

Sometimes people just end up working in the AV industry by accident. Maybe their family has worked in the industry for years, maybe they came in through the guidance of a trusted friend or mentor, or maybe they had a passion for something related to AV. For Andrew Brickman, service department manager at Logic Integration, […]

It is no secret that I, Molly Stillman, LOVE Pinterest. I can easily burn a few hours on Pinterest and not even blink. I’ve talked about Pinterest (somewhat ad nauseum) in my social media tips of the week and I’ve mentioned how companies and businesses (specifically, AV people) can better use and integrate the social […]

We want to know: which tradeshows do you plan on attending in 2014? Take our quick survey below to let us know! AND, to sweeten the deal, just by taking our survey, you can be entered to win a BRAND NEW Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 8350 projector! On a mobile device or can’t see the […]

To say that the AV industry is in the blood of John Pidgeon, president of Draper, Inc. is an understatement. He got into the industry simply by being born. Draper is a family business through and through. It was established 111 years ago by Pidgeon’s great grandfather, Luther Draper. It’s been managed, in turn, by […]